Thread cutter for sewing machines



4 Z .Il jjj j fo @af/KM M vf (Imag gs May 21, 1940. o. R. HMS 2,201,969

y THREAD CUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES Original F'iled April 29, 1936 7Sheets-Sheet 14 f Z l Figi Zmventor May 2l, 1.940. o. R. HAAs y THRE'ADCUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES n 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 original Filed April 29,19:56

nventor .7;9 (Ittorzegs Fig. Z

May 2l, 1940. v Q R HAAS 2,201,969

' THREAD CUTTER Fon SEWING MACHINES original Filed April 29, 1936 '7sheets-sheet 5 :inventor Miln,

May Z1,` 1940. Y Q R, HAAS 2,201,969

THREAD CUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 29, 1956 7Sheets-Sheet 4 Figa! l I u Sventor miv y mwayttoegs May 21, 1940. Q RHAAS 2,201,969

THREAD CUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 29, 1956 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 5

Snvenfor MKM 0 (Ittogegs May 21,-1940. o. R. HAAs THREAD CUTTER FORSEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 29, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 .hln n,

May 421, 1940. 0, R. HAAS 2,201,969

l THREAD CUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES original Filed April 29, 193s 7sheets-sheet 1 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE THREADCUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES Jersey Original application April 29, 1936,Serial No.

76,924. Divided and this application April 6,

1938, Serial No. 200,409

29 Claims.

The present invention relates to shoe sewing machines, and morespecifically to improvements in thread cutting mechanism particularlyadapted for use in wax thread lockstitch outsole shoe sewing machines,similar in construction and operation to the machine illustrated anddescribed in applicants Patent No. 2,148,197 dated February 21, 1939, ofwhich the present application is a division. The invention, however, isby no means limited to use in such machines, but may be employed toadvantage in connection with chain stitch sewing machines or with sewingmachines other than outsole stitchers.

The several features of the invention are herein illustrated as embodiedin a curved hook needle lockstitch shoe sewing .machine in which the,stitch forming devices are similar in many respects to those disclosedin United States Letters Patent No. 2,031,479 of February 18, 1936, andNo. 2,045,643 of June 30, 1936, both in the name of the presentinventor. In machines of the type disclosed in the above patents, onaccount of the close assemblage of the stitch forming devices and theiractuating mechanisms, there is no eXtra available space. Addition ofother accessory devices, such as a thread cutter, is therefore likely toprevent proper presentation of the work to the machine or to barconvenient access to the stitch forming devices for adjusting the sameor for other purposes.

In the present inventors U. S. Patent No. 2,037,721 of April 21, 1936,there is disclosed a cutter acting between the work support and thepresser foot to sever the thread at the end of a seam, the knife of thecutter being mounted on a carriage movable perpendicularly towards andfrom the work. During the sewing operation, the cutter is held in raisedposition above the point of operation of the stitch forming devices.Such arrangement, while satisfactory to sever the thread upon thecompletion of a seam, does not, when the cutter is raised, permitcomplete freedom of manipulation of the shoe during the stitchingoperation, nor is adequate access to the stitch forming devicesafforded.

It is the object, therefore, of the present invention to provide noveland improved thread-cutting mechanism for use in outsole and other typesof shoe sewing machines, which will operate satisfactorily to sever thethread at the end of a seam and will not cause interference either withthe stitch-forming instrumentalities or with the manipulation of theshoe while sewing.

65 According to a featureof the present invention,

there is provided in a sewing machine of the type i I above referred to,a thread cutter arranged to be actuated through a path directed not onlytowards and from the Work in the same general way as in Patent No.2,037,721, but also to be actuated through a path extending from oneside of the point of operation of the stitch forming devices in thedirection of the seam line. To this end, the cutter, as hereinafterdescribed, is mounted on a shaft Which is both rotated and vreciprocatedwhile moving towards and away from the work. By such an arrangement, thestitch forming devices and their actuating mechanisms are more readilyaccessible and the cutter does not interfere with the sewing devices orwith the manipulation of the shoe in presenting it to the machine.

As a further feature of the invention, the thread cutter mechanism is soarranged that the reciprocating movement of the cutter supporting =20shaft is adjusted automatically by the position which the presser footassumes in clamping the work, so that the cutter is caused to penetratethe work a predetermined uniform distance below the upper surfacethereof during each cutting operation, regardless of the thickness ofthe work.

To render the operation of the stitch forming devices free from anydetrimental effects resulting from the addition to the machine of thethread cutter mechanism, the adjustment ofthe said mechanism by theposition of the presser foot is controlled, not through a permanentconnection to the presser foot as in the machine of the patent aboveidentified,` but instead by a presser foot feeler rod which is held outof 4the prior patent.

Other features of the invention contemplate a new and improved guardmechanism for lthe thread cutter knife, a new and improved lockingthread pull-off actuated by the thread cutter for withdrawing an eXtralength of locking thread from the thread case preparatory to starting anew seam, and novel and improved means in a nism such as with themechanism described in t4 5 treadle controlled machine for preventingopera- 55 tion of the thread cutter along certain portions of the seam.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent t0those skilled in the art from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a viewin right hand side elevation or" the head portion of a shoe sewingmachine embodying the invention, illustrating the control handle andcertain of the connections for disabling the thread cutter; Figure 2 isa plan view of a portion of the head of the machine, showing certain ofthe cutter actuating elements; Figure 3 is a sectional sde elevation or"the machine head lool'ng from the right; Figure i is a left sidesectional elevation of the machine head, showing the feed adjustingmechanism; Figure 5 is a detail view in front elevation on an enlargedscale of the head of the machine adjacent the sewing point, showing thethread cutter in actuated position; Figure 6 is a sectional View,looking from the right, of the thread cutter and presser foot actuatingmechanism in operating position; Figure 7 is a detail view of a portionof the thread cutter actuating mechanism with the machine in stoppedposition; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8 8 ofFigure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view, looking from the left, showingthe thread cutter actuating mechanism; Figure l0 is a detail viewillustrating a modified form of the invention in which a guard isprovided for the cutting edge of the thread cutter knife; Figure ll is aview of a portion of the cutter guard, as seen along the line il-ll ofFigure 10; and Figure 12 is a sectional View of the cutter guard, takenalong the line Z-EZ of Figure 10.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a high speed manuallycontrolled wax thread shoe sewing machine, the starting and stopping ofwhich is effected by a driving and stopping mechanism actuated by a foottreadle. The work is guided in the machine by the operator, instead ofautomatically as provided for in the machines of the patents abovereferred to.

The head frame of the machine, indicated at 2, includes the stitchforming devices, and is supported on a vertical pedestal li secured to abase, not illustrated. The main sewing shaft 6 is rotated by pulley 6 ofthe driving and stopping mechanism by means of belt l from a drivingmotor, not shown, located at the base of the machine. The driving andstopping mechanism is substantially the same as that illustrated anddescribed in the present inventors U. S. Patent No. 2,078,542 dated May4, 1937, and is controlled by the usual foot operated treadle, a portionof which is indicated at Il, mounted on the base of the machine andconnected with the driving and stopping mechanism through a treadle rodI2.

The stitch forming and work feeding devices of the machine include acurved hook needle i4, a curved awl I6, a needle guide I8, a shuttle orloop taker 2li within a guideway of which is mounted a hollow circularthread case 22, a looper 24, a thread hook or ringer 26, main andauxiliary take-ups 28 and 30, respectively (see Fig. 4), a presser foot32, and a Work support 34. The stitch forming devices of the machine areso actuated that the awl penetrates the work after `the needle haspulled a loop of thread through the work and before the stitch beingformed is set, in substantially the same manner as in inventors priormachines. The work is fed continuously by alternate feeding movements ofthe presser foot and Work support as a unit and of the needle as a unitwhile engaging the Work.

The thread cutter mechanism constituting the present invention andembodied in the illustrated machine is adapted to sever the thread whilethe work is held clamped between the work support and the presser-footin substantially the same manner as in Patent No. 2,037,721 abovereferred to.

rlhe cutter consists of a curved knife 42 of right angle section clampedin place Within a suitably shaped block 44 secured at the lower end of ashaft fill. The lower end of the shaft is formed with a flanged portionto which the block M is bolted. rIhe block Ml is formed at its lowerportion with a slot inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft d andwithin the slot is fulcrumed by means of a bolt Q6, a clamping lever 58,the lower end of which grips the knife near its cutting edge, andsecures it in place. The other end of the lever i8 is engaged by a clampscrew 5i] provided with a suitably knurled head and threaded through aportion of the block 44 to rock the clamp lever 58 about the fulcrumbolt E6 into clamping engagement with the knife. By releasing the clampscrew 5U, the critter' may easily be replaced or removed for sharpening.

To enable the cutter to move into cutting position from a position atone side of the point oi.

operation of the stitch forming devices in the line of feed, the cutteris mounted on the vertical shaft Eil (Figs. 3, 5, and 6 to 9) with itsaxis at the right of the shuttle and the point of operation of theneedle and awl.

To actuate the cutter, the cutter shaft '13 isy slidably and rotatablymounted in bearings of a bracket 52 so that the knife will be moved in ahelical path, the shaft being rotated and reciprocated simultaneously bytwo different trains of connections. Surrounding the shaft between thebearings of the bracket 52 is a pair of perforated lugs extendinglaterally from a vertically disposed rack 54 (see Figs. 5 and 6) slidingvertically in the bracket 52. Between the lugs of the rack there ismounted a collar 56 pinned to the shaft so that when the rack is raisedor lowered the shaft will be moved correspondingly. The rack 54 mesheswith a gear segment 58 on a horizontal shaft 5G which is oscillated rstin one direction and then the other. To oscillate the shaft 60 there ismounted at its left end a gear segment 62 intermeshing with horizontalrack teeth formed in a power actuated horizontal bar SI5. The bar 64 ismounted to slide within a horizontal passage within the bracket 52.

To rotate the cutter shaft d5, the rack bar 64 has in addition to thehorizontal rack teeth, a set of vertical rack teeth along its right sidemeshing with the teeth on a gear segment 66 formed on one arm of a lever68. The lever 68 is fulcrumed on a vertical stud 'i9 secured in thecutter bracket and the other arm of the lever is formed with a toothedsegment 'I2 meshing with a similar segment lll. The hub of segment 'Mrotates within the upper bearing for the shaft Si? and is provided witha squared central opening through which the squared upper end of theshaft LEl passes. /Vhen the rack bar 64 is reciprocated the connectionsthus described cause the cutter shaft 40 to be rotated simultaneouslywith the vertical reciprocation.

The shaft 4D is so arranged with relation to the point of operation ofthe stitch forming devices that its axis will intersect the worksubstantially in the line of feed, and at a point of sufficient distanceto the right to insure that the cutting edge of the knife will engagethe lastformed stitch in the work when operated. The helical pathdescribed by the knife edge forms an acute angle with the surface of thework so as to penetrate the work in a direction transverse to the seamline and to cut both the needle and locking threads in the desiredmanner.

To cause the cutter to penetrate a uniform distance below the uppersurface of the work during each operation, regardless of the thicknessof the work, the connections for reciprocating the cutter shaft 48vertically are adjusted by means of connections controlled by thepresserfoot as it engages the work. The segment 58 is mounted forrelative movement on the shaft 88, and is caused to rotate sooner orlater with relation to the start of the rotary movement of the shaftwith thin or thick work, respectively.

On the shaft 58 near its right end is formed a series of screw threads15 (see Fig. 8) engaging corresponding threads within the segment 58.When the shaft 68 begins its rotation to actuate the cutter, the rack 54is held from downward movement by a yieldingly actuated pin 'i8 (seeFig. 5) engaging the side of the rack. The segment 58 therefore is 4heldfrom rotation and moves lengthwise of the shaft. To cause the segment 58to start rotating with the shaft at the proper point there is provided asquare sided Wedge shaped washer 88 loosely surrounding the shaft and awedge shaped block 82 cooperating with the washer B8. The wedge shapedblock 82 is connected with a feeler comprising a rod 88 sliding in apassage formed in the bracket 52.

The block and feeler rod are moved downwardly, before the cutteroperates, to a position determined by the thickness of the work. Withthinner work, the feeler rod 88 and wedge block 82 are moved whenactuated to a lower position, and with thicker work to a higherposition. Due to the wedging action between the block 82 and washer 88,the amount of relative lost motion between the shaft 68 and the gearsegment 58 is reguiated so as to change the reciprocating stroke of thecutter shaft 48 correspondingly.

To adjust the position of the feeler rod 8 with relation to thethickness of the work, the lever 88, upon which the presser foot 32 ismounted, is provided with an upwardly extending arm to be engaged by thelower end of the feeler rod during its downward movement. The feeler rodis held in raised position during sewing by a yieldingly actuated pawl98 pivotally mounted in the upper end of the block 82. The pawl isengaged by a dog 92 and, when the dog is moved from beneath the pawl, aspring 94 compressed between a shoulder at the upper end of the rodreceiving passage in the bracket 52 and an enlargement at the lower endof the rod forces the rod downwardly against the presser-foot lever. Thedog 92 is rotatably mounted on the hub of the gear segment 5B, but isprovided with a circular slot surrounding a circumferential rib 95 onthe gear segment. To actuate the dog as soon as the shaft 68 begins torotate, so that the feeler may be engaged withthe presser-foot leverbefore the thread cutter has been moved any substantial distance, aslotted portion of the dog 92 extends beyond the rib 96 on the segment58 and surrounds a stud 98 secured in the shaft 68. To limit therelative lost motion between the gear segment 58 and the shaft 68, thegear segment is Vto be raised simultaneously with the beginning of itsreverse rotation after cutting the threads,

a one-way driving clutch connection is provided between the shaft 68 andthe segment 58. Surrounding the shaft 88 at its right end, there is abushing |88 secured to the shaft by means of a pin |82. Between theaxially extending portion of the segment 58 and the bushing |08 there iswedged a roll |04 pressed towards locking engagement with the bushing|88 by a compression spring |86. When the shaft B8 begins its Areverserotation, after the threads are cut, the

roll |84 causes the segment 58 to start its reverse rotation with theshaft immediately. When the reverse rotation to the shaft 68 is nearlycompleted, the roll |84 is moved from locking engagement with thebushing |88 so that the gear segment 58 may be held from rotation andmoved along the shaft by threads 78 until the segment reaches itsoriginal starting position. To disengage the roll |84 there is mountedin the cutter bracket 52, a pin |88 having its inner end shaped in theform of a wedge to force the roll |84 against its spring |88 when thesegment 58 has nearly reached its original starting position.

To raise the feeler rod from its lowermost position the upper portion ofthe block 82 is formed with a right angled finger extending over a pin||8 carried by an arm l2 of a forked lever |84 rotatably mounted on ahorizontal shaft ||4. After the thread cutter has engaged the work, thearm ||2 is rocked upwardly by mechanism hereinafter described todisengage the feeler 88 from the presser-foot lever 88. When the feelerrod is raised, the pawl 98 immediately engages the dog 92 to hold thefeeler rod from again Y contacting the presser-foot lever.

When the cutter knife 42 is in inactive position, its exposed edge may,if desired, be protected by a guard as more particularly illustrated inFigures 10, 1l and 12. The guard is arranged to be located in a positioncovering the edge of the knife and, when the cutter is actuated, theguard is automatically unlocked, so that the kznife edge may beprojected Aagainst the work.

When the cutter guard is. used, the knife clamping lever 48 is providedwith a lug at its upper end, and the guard, in the form of a channelshaped arm IIS, is pivotally mounted on a pin ||8 secured in said lug.The cutter clamping lever is further modified by the provision of anopening |28 from which extends a compression spring |22 surrounding aright angled tongue bent up inside the guard arm H6. The free end of thearm is formed with an opening through which the cutter knife may passand a finger |24 formed integrally with the arm acts as a stop to holdthe arm against the action of the spring in a position covering the edgeof the knife. The guard is held locked in this position by means of alatch |26 formed of spring metal securedg to the cutter mounting block44. The latch member is perforated to fit over the fulcrum bolt 46 forthe cutter clamping lever, and is held in position by a pin |23 (Fig.11) extending from the block and a nut |38 threaded to the end of thefulcrum bolt. The latch member is provided with a right angle latchportion |3| at its llower end, beneath which the side flange of theguard arm ||6 is held. When the cutter is projected against the work,the rounded lower end of the latch member engages the presser-foot toraise the latch portion from engagement with the guard arm ||6 so thatwhen the guard arm contacts with the work it may remain stationaryduring the continued advance of the cutter.

In operating upon certain types of work, it is desirable to provide anadditional length of locking thread at the beginning of each new seam.For this purpose the latch member |26 is constructed with a threadmeasuring arm |32 which is located to engage the thread extendingbetween the thread case and the work, as illustrated in Figures 10 andl1, just before the cutter severs the threads. The thread measuring armdelects the thread over the work engaging portion of the presser-foot topull off a suiiicient length for proper starting of a new seam. Thethread measuring arm is rounded at its lower end |33 so that it may beraised slightly to clear the presser-foot in measuring the thread.

The power driven mechanism for reciprocating the thread cutter actuatingrack bar 64 comprises a link |34 (Figs. 2 and 3) pivotally connected atits forward end to the rearward end of the rack bar 64 and a camactuated lever |36 connected to the rearward end of the link 34. Thelever |36 is fulcrumed at its lower end on a bolt |38. Intermediate theends of the lever is a follower |40 engaging a cam |42 rotatable on ashaft |43 at the rear of the sewing shaft 6. The cam |42 is connectedwith a one-revolution clutch having a driving part |44 and relativelymovable driven parts |46 and |48 of the same construction and mode ofoperation as described more particularly in the present inventors U. S.Patent No. 2,078,942 above referred to. The clutch is brought intooperation by means including a dog |41 which engages a cam |49 on thesewing shaft whenever the driving and stopping mechanism is actuated tostop the machine during the nal movements of the sewing shaft 6. Duringthe operation of the machine, the dog is held away from the cam bytreadle-operated connections including a rod |5| which is actuated bythe treadle as described more fully in Patent No. 2,148,197 and inPatent No. 2,078,942.

The presser foot is locked in gripping engagement with the surface ofthe work by yielding means acting through an arrangement of lockingwedge blocks similar to that described in the U. S. Patent to AshworthNo. 1,756,502 of April 29, 1930, the wedge blocks being mounted abovethe presser-foot in a wedge box |50 (see Figs. 3 and 6) secured in themachine frame. The presser-foot wedge block, indicated at |52, isconnected to the presser foot 88 by a link |54 having ball and socketjoints at the ends thereof.

The presser foot wedge block |52 is forced downwardly by engagement ofone of its surfaces with a locking wedge block |56 formed at the lowerend of a rod |58, the upper end of which carries a pin |60. Pivoted onopposite ends of the pin is a pair of links |62, the lower ends of whichare pivotally connected to the ends of the forked lever |64 rotatablymounted on shaft |4. A tension spring |86 connected between anupstanding arm |58 of lever |64 and a lug on the machine frame acts toforce the rod |58 downwardly to cause the presser foot to clamp thework.

To raise the presser-foot intermittently from the work during sewing,the rod portion |58 of the locking wedge block |52 is surrounded at itscentral part by a yoke |10 (see Figs. 6 and 9) between the lugs of whicha gripping arm |12 is pivotally mounted. The yoke |16 is normally heldin lowered position by a spring |14 surrounding the rod portion of thelocking wedge block between the yoke |10 and a bearing |16 at the top ofthe wedge box |50. The gripping arm |10 is forked at its rearward endand surrounds a squared block |18 pivoted between the parallel arms of alifting lever |86 also fulcrumed on the shaft i4. The lever has aslotted arm in which is adjustably secured the pivot |82 for one end ofa link |84, (Fig. 3), the other end of which is connected to a camactuated lever |86 fulcrumed on a horizontal shaft |38. When the lever|86 is actuated, the camshaped forward end of gripping arm |12 actsdirectly against the locking wedge block rod |58 to raise it apredetermined distance during each cycle of operations of the machine.The lever then lowers the gripping arm until the yoke |10 strikes aright angle plate |89 adi The presser-foot is raised from the work whenthe rod |50 is lifted by loosely connected connections between thelocking wedge block |56 and the presser-foot wedge block |52. Theseconnections comprise a lever pivoted at one end to the locking wedgeblock |56 and a link |92 connected with the presserfoot wedge block |52,arranged as in the application referred to in such a way that upward anddownward movement of the rod |58 serves to raise and lower thepresser-foot block |52, the looseness in connecting linkage allowingproper wedging action of the blocks when in lowered position forclamping the work.

The mechanism for raising the presser-foot at the end of the seamcomprises an upstanding arm of a lever |94 having a horizontal armunderlying a set screw |96 carried by the arm ||2 of forked lever |64.The lever |94 is connected to the forward end of a link |93, therearward end of which is pivotally connected with a cam actuated lever206 (Fig. 3). A cam 202 for actuating the lever 200 is rotated by theone-revolution clutch |44-|48, hereinbefore referred to, and therelation between the cam |42 which actuates the thread cutter and thecam 202 is such that the presser-foot is raised only after the threadcutter has completed its operation.

To prevent the thread cutter from being actuated upon stopping themachine at certain times during sewing operations, as, for instance,while operating upon the forepart of a shoe, there is provided in theillustrated machine a series of connections for disconnecting the threadcutter from its actuating cam lever. The thread cutter actuating link|34 is formed at its rearward end with an L-shaped slot 205i (Fig. 3)through which passes a bolt 206 secured to the upper end of the camactuated lever |36. The rear- 'ward end of the link |34 is alsoconnected by means of a link 208 with an arm 2| 0 seciued to one end ofa shaft 2|2. To the outer end of the shaft 2|2 is secured an arm 2|4(see Fig. l) located at the right side of the machine (see Fig. 6) i andconnected through a link 2| 6 to a manual control handle 2I8 rotatablymounted on the main frame. The lower end of the handle 'is provided witha suitable grip by means of which the handle may be swung forwardly orrearwardly as desired. When the handle is swung rearwardly, theconnections just described act to raise the end of link |34 until thehorizontal portion of the slot 204 is level with the stud 206. When thelink is in this position, rotation of the auxiliary clutch and cam |42,upon stopping the machine, will have no effect on the thread cutter, butthe presser foot will be raised to release the work so that its positionmay be readjusted before starting the machine again. When the handle ismoved forwardly to any position except its extreme rearward position,the end of link 134 is sumciently lowered to engage the vertical portionof slot 2M with the stud 206, thereby again rendering the cutteractuable when the machine is stopped.

The control handle 2l8 is so connected and arranged that it may be used,not only to render the thread cutter inoperative, but also, if desired,the handle may be used to regulate simultaneously the feeding movementsimparted by the presser-foot and work support as a unit and by theneedle as a unit.

The presser-foot and work support are mounted on a laterally slidingcarriage 22B for reciprocating movement in the line of feed. Thecarriage is provided with horizontal gudgeons 222 extending in oppositedirections from the carriage and received in circular guideways in themachine frame. A link 224 pivotally connected at one end to the rear ofthe carriage and at its other end to the machine frame prevents rotationof the carriage about the gudgeons.

To move the carriage in the line of feed, the gudgeon 222 at the left ofthe carriage is connected .to one arm of a lever 225 mounted on avertical shaft 228 in the machine frame. The arm is provided withvertically separated forked portions, between the ends of which areslidably positioned a pair of blocks the lowermost one of which is shownin Fig. 4, at 230 pivotally mounted upon a vertical pin 232 in thegudgeon 222. The

other arm of the lever 225 is connected by means' of a link 234 to alever 236 supported on a horizontal shaft 238 carried by the machineframe.

The lever 235 is formed with an elongated hub carrying a pair of arms240 positioned at each side of an open frame 242 and pivotally connectedthereto. The frame carries a cam roll 244 cooperating with a cam on thesewing cam shaft and is pivotally connected by means of a pin 245 withthe lower end of a link 248, the upper end of which is rotatably mountedupon a stud 255 secured in the upper end of one arm of a yoke 252. Whenthesewing cam shaft is rotated, the frame 242 is oscillated about theshaft 238 and stud 252 as centers, the lever 240 and link 258 acting asguides for the movement of the frame. The link 24B and that portion ofthe frame 242 between pin 245 and the pivotal connection of lever 240comprises a pair of toggle' members for driving the feed slide, therelative position of stud 250 determining the amount of feeding movementimparted to the carriage.

The needle and awl are mounted on toothed segments for oscillatingmovement about a carrer stud 254 journalled at one end in a plainbearing in the machine frame, and at the other end ina-threaded bearing25B supported by the feed carriage, the endof the stud beingcorrespondingly threaded to engage said bearing as described in furtherdetail in the inventors Patent No. 2,031,479 above referred to. v

To impart separate feeding movements to the carrier stud 252, the studis oscillated by means of a gear segment 258 formed on the stud andengaged by a corresponding segment 260 (see Fig. 4) secured to a shaft262 on which is mounted an arm 264. The arm 264 is connected by means ofa link 25B with an open frame 268 similar to the frame 242 of the feedcarriage reciprocating mechanism. The link 256 is provided with a roll215 positioned in a guideway formed in a plate 212 mounted on shafts 238and 214. The frame 258 is supported for oscillating movement by a link21E pivotally connected at one end to the frame 258 and at the other endby stud 218 to the outer end of the other arm of the adjustable yokemember 252. The frame is oscillated from a cam on the main sewing shaft5 while being guided.A by the link 215 and by the roll 210 in theguideway in plate 212. The amount of feeding movement imparted to theneedle and awl by the carrier stud 254 is determined by the position ofthe adjustable yoke member 252, which member likeerally extending pin,288 on the handle engagesl the inner end of a bolt 290 adjustablyclamped within a slot in the plate 280. The plate 280 is also formedwith an arcuate slot 292 in which is adjustably clamped a bolt 294, theinner endy of which passes loosely through the forward end of a link296. 'I'he rearward end of the link 226 is connected with the lower endof an arm 298 mounted at the right end of a horizontal shaft 355. Theshaft 39D extends loosely through suitable bearings in the lower part ofthe sewing head and at its left end is pinned to one side of the yokemember 252 to the extremities of which the cam actuated frames 242 and268 are connected. The other side of the yoke member is rotatablymounted on a stub shaft 302 in alignment with the shaft 320. When theshaft 305 is oscillated, the positions of the arms of the yoke 252 arechanged so yas to change simultaneously the distances through which thefeed carriage 220 and the needle and awl stud 254 are moved.

When the control handle is moved to its rearward position to disable thethread cutter, the plate 235 is moved in a direction to shorten thefeeding movements of the feed carriage and the needle and awl stud. Thehandle is customarily thus moved as the sewing progresses from the shankof the shoe to the forepart. When the control handle is moved to theother eXtreme position as, for instance, when the sewing progresses fromthe forepart to the shank, the plate 28D will be moved to lengthen thefeeding movements. By thus disabling the thread cutter, the machine maybe stopped in the middle of a seam, if necessary or desirable for anyreason, without cutting the thread, and the thread cut properly uponpart of the operator other than ordinarily used in regulating the feedmechanism or the other devices which act on the shoe. The movements ofthe plate 286 will occur only at the ends of 1 the control handlemovement so that the cutter may be rendered operative if desired bymoving the control handle to a central position without effecting achange in the feeding movements. To retain the plate 280 in positionafter adjusting the length of feed at one end of the handle movement, inthe lower end of the bracket 284 there is loosely mounted a bolt 3Mpassing through an arcuate slot in the plate 286. The bolt 304 issurrounded by a spring, not illustrated, compressed between the bracket284 and a thumb nut 30G on the rods to provide friction of the stud inthe slot of the Vplate 280 and prevent its movement While the machine isoperated. If desired, the thumb nut 306 may be tightened to prevent anymovement of the plate 280, thus holding the feed adjustment fixed duringoperation of the machine.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated, and aconstruction embodying the several features of the invention having beenspecically described, what is claimed is:

. 1. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of the seam comprising a knife-edged member andmeans for causing said member, when actuated, to move through a pathextending at an angle to the surface of the shoe sole and having acomponent in the direction of the seam line from inactive to activecutting position, and to enter the space between the presser foot andwork support.

2. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices, a work support and a presser' foot for clamping between themthe projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severing thethread at the end of a seam comprising a knife edged member and meansfor causing said member, when actuated, to move through a path having acomponent in the direction of the seam line from inactive to activecutting position, and to penetrate the shoe sole between the presserfoot and work support in a direction transverse to the seam line.

3. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchedforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam while the shoe remains in positionbetween the work support and the presser foot comprising a knife-edgedmember and means for causing said member, when actuated, to move in ahelical path about an axis forming an angle with the shoe sole.

4. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping between them theprojecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severing the threadat the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in position between thework support and presser foot comprising a knife edged member and aknife supporting shaft, mechanism for actuating the shaft to cause theknife member to move in a curved path having a component in thedirection of the seam line from an inactive position at one side thepoint of operation of the stitch forming dcvices to a cutting positionbetween the work support and presser foot.

5. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping between them theprojecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severing the threadat the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in position bctween thework support and presser foot comprising a knife edged member, a knifesupporting shaft disposed with its axis approximately perpendicular tothe surface of the work and intersecting the seam line, and mechanismfor reciprocating and rotating the shaft to cause the knife member tomove in a direction lengthwise of the shaft from an inactive position atone side the point of operation of the stitch forming devices to acutting position between the presser foot and work support.

6. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping between them theprojecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severing the threadat the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in position between thework support and presser foot comprising a knife-edged member, a knifesupporting shaft and mechanism controlled by the position of the presserfoot for rotating and reciprocating the shaft towards and from the shoeto cause the knife to act in a predetermined relation to the shoe sole.

'7, An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in positionbetween the work support and presser foot comprising a knife-edgedmember, a knife supporting shaft, and mechanism controlled by thethickness of the work for rotating and reciprocating the shaft towardsand from the shoe to cause the knife to act in a predetermined relationto the shoe sole.

8. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices, a Work support and a presser foot for clamping between lthemthe projecting edge of the sole of a shoe,

and means for severing the thread at the end of a seam while the soleedge remains in position between the work support and presser footcomprising a knife-edged member, a knife supporting shaft, mechanism forrotating and reciprocating the shaft towards and from the shoe, andmeans for controlling said mechanism to cause the knife to penetrate apredetermined distance into the shoe sole regardless of the solethickness,

9. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping between them theprojecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severing the threadat the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in position between thework support and presser foot comprising a knife-edged member and aknife supporting shaft, mechanism for rotating the shaft, connectionsbetween the shaft and said mechanism for reciprocating the shaft duringrotation, and a feeler cooperating with the presser foot for adjustingthe extent of reciprocation imparted to the shaft.

10. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in positionbetween the work support and presser foot comprising a knife-edgedmember and a knife supporting shaft, mechanism for r'otating the shaft,connections between the shaft and said mechanism for reciprocating theshaft during rotation, and means controlled by the thickness of the workfor adjusting the extent of reciprocation imparted to the shaft.

l1. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a' seam while the sole edge remains in positionbetween the work support and presser foot comprisinga knife-edgedmember, knife supporting means, mechanism for moving the knifesupporting means to cause the knife member to move transversely to theseam line, connections between thev knife supporting means and saidmechanism for causing the knife to penetrate the shoe sole duringtransverse movement of the knife, a feeler brought into engagement withthe presser foot for adjusting the connections to cause the knife memberto penetrate a predetermined distance beneath the surface of the sole,and means for holding the feeler out of engagement with the presser footduring sewing.

12. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in positionbetween the work support and presser foot comprising a knife-edgedmember, knife supporting means, mechanism Yfor actuating the knifesupporting means towards the shoe sole, a feeler brought into engagementwith the presser foot for adjusting the operation of said mechanism,

and a latch for holding the feeler out of engagement with the presserfoot during sewing.

13. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in positionbetween the work support and presser foot comprising a knife-edgedmember, a knife supporting shaft, mechanism including connections havinglost motion for actuating the knife supporting shaft towards the shoesole, and simultaneously for rotating the shaft to cause the knifemember to penetrate the surface of the shoe sole along a path forming anacute angle with the work surface, and a feeler controlled by thethickness of the work to adjust the amount of lost motion in saidconnections.

14. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchingforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam while the sole edge remains in positionbetween the work support and presser foot comprising a knife-edgedmember, a knife supporting shaft disposed with its axis at an angle tothe shoe sole, mechanism for rotating the shaft, connections having lostmotion between the shaft and said mechanism for reciprocating the shaftduring rotary motion, a feeler controlled by the thickness of the soleto adjust the amount of lost motion in said connections, and means forpreventing lost motion in said connections from taking place when theknife member is in engagement with the sole.

15. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam comprising a knife-edged memberarranged, when actuated, to move against the shoe sole, a guard mountedto move with the knife-edged member for covering the edge of the knifemember during operation of the stitch forming devices, and means forcausing the guard to uncover the edge of the knife member when saidmember moves toward the shoe sole.

16. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam comprising a knife-edged memberarranged, when actuated, to move against the shoe sole, a yielding guardmounted to move with the knife-edged member, and means for locking theguard in a position covering the edge of said member.

1'7. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam comprising a knife-edged memberarranged, when actuated, to move against the shoe sole, a yielding guardmounted to move with the knife-edged member, a latch fo-r locking theguard in a position covering the edge of said member, and meanscooperating with the latch for unlocking the guard when the knife membermoves towards the shoe sole.

18. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchingforming devices, a work support and a presser foot for clamping betweenthem the projecting edge of the sole of a shoe, and ,means for severingthe thread at the end of a seam comprising a knife-edged memberarranged, when actuated, to move against the shoe sole, a yielding guardmounted to move with the knife-edge member, a latch for locking theguard in a position covering the edge of said member, and a projectionon the latch for engaging the presser foot when the knife member engagesthe shoe sole to unlock the guard.

19. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchingforming devices including a locking thread case and a loop taker, a worksupport and a presser foot for clamping between them the projecting edgeof the sole of a shoe, a thread cutter actuated to sever the lockingthread at the end of a seam while the work is clamped, mechanism foractuating the thread cutter and thereafter for releasing the work fromthe presser foot and work support, and a member on the cutter fordeecting the locking thread between the thread case and the work whilethe work is clamped to provide an extra length of locking thread instarting a new seam.

20. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices including a locking thread case and a loop taker, a worksupport and a presser foot for clamping between them the projecting edgeof the sole of a shoe, a thread cutter actuated to severthe lockingthread at the end of a seam while the work is clamped, mechanism foractuating the thread cutter, and a member on the cutter for defiectingthe locking thread between the thread case and the work while the workis clamped to provide an extra length of locking thread in starting anew seam.

2i. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices including a locking thread case and a loop taker, a worksupport and a presser foot for clamping between them the projecting edgeof the sole of a shoe, a thread cutter actuated to sever the locking'thread at the end of a seam while the work is clamped., mechanism foractuating the thread cutter and. thereafter for releasing the work fromthe presser foot and work support, and a yielding member on the cutterfor forcing the locking thread against the presser foot while the workis clamped to provide an extra length of locking thread in starting anew seam.

22. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, amain sewing shaft for actuating said devices, a work support, a presserfoot for clamping the work against the work support, driving andstopping mechanisms, a treadle for controlling the driving and stoppingmechanisms, a thread cutter arranged to sever the thread while the workis clamped between the presser foot and work support, power drivenmechanism for actuating the cutter and for disengaging the presser footfrom the work, means actuated by the sewing shaft in stopping themachine to throw the power driven mechanism into operation, and manuallycontrolled connections between the power driven mechanism and the cutterarranged to render the cutter inoperative while the power drivenmechanism operates.

23. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, amain sewing shaft for actuating said devices, a work support, a presserfoot for clamping the work against the work support, driving andstopping mechanisms, a treadle for controlling the driving and stoppingmechanisms, a thread cutter, power driven mechanism for actuating thecutter, means actuated by the sewing shaft in stopping the machine tothrow the power driven mechanism into operation, and manually controlledconnections between the power driven mechanism and the cutter arrangedto render the cutter inoperative while the power driven mechanismoperates.

24. A sewing machine having, in combination,l

stitch forming devices, a main sewing shaft for actuating said devices,a work support. a presser foot for clamping the work against the worksupport, driving and stopping mechanisms, a treadle for controlling thedriving and stopping mechanisms, a thread cutter arranged to sever thethread while the work is clamped between the presser foot and worksupport, levers connected to actuate the cutter and to disengage thepresser foot from the work, a power driven member for operating thelevers, means actuated by the driving and stopping mechanisms instopping the machine to throw the power driven member into operation,`and manually controlled connections between the cutter and one of thelevers arranged to render the cutter inoperative without preventing thedisengagement of the presser foot from the work.

zo. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming and workfeeding devices, a cutter actuated when the stitch forming devices arestopped to sever the thread, means for regulating the operations ofcertain of the stitch forming and work feeding devices and for disablingthe cutter, a control handle, and connections for actuating theregulating and cutter disabling means from said handle.

26. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming work feedingdevices, a stop mechanism, a thread cutter', cutter actuating mechanism,a feed changing mechanism, and means for simultaneously operating thefeed changing mechanism and rendering the cutter actuating mechanismoperative and inoperative upon stopping the machine.

27. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming and workfeeding devices, a stop mechanism, a thread cutter, cutter actuatingmechanism, a feed changing mechanism, and connections between the feedchanging and cutter actuating mechanisms acting under one adjustment ofthe feed changing mechanism to render the cutter actuating mechanisminoperative upon stopping the machine, and under another adjustment torender the cutter actuating mechanism operative upon stopping themachine.

28. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming and workfeeding devices, a cutter actuated when the stitch forming devices arestopped to sever the thread, means for regulating the operations ofcertain of the stitch forming and work feeding devices and for disablingthe cutter, a control handle arranged to be shifted manually through alimited range of movement, connections operated by the handle foractuating the regulating means at the ends only of said handle movement,and other connections for actuating the cutter disabling means to renderthe cutter operative throughout the central portion of the handlemovement.

29. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming and workfeeding devices, a cut* ter actuated when the stitch forming devices arestopped to sever the thread, means for changing the length of feedingmovement imparted ,to the work by the feeding devices and for disablingthe cutter, a control handle arranged to be shifted manually through alimited range of movement, connections between the control handle andsaid means arranged to disable the cutter at one end only of handlemovement, other connections actuated by the handle arranged to changethe feeding movement of the work feeding devices at both ends of thehandle movement, and means for retaining the position of the feedchanging connections after adjustment at one end of the handle movementuntil the other end of the handio movement is reached.

OTTO R. HAAS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,201,969. May 21, 191m.

OTTO R. HAAs.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6,first column, line 16, for the word "rods" read -rod; page 6, firstcolumn, line 55, claim 5, for "stitched" read -stitch; page 7, secondcolumn, lines lili and 57, claims 18 and 19 respectively, for"stitching" read --stitch; and that the said Letters Patent should bereadwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office.

signed and seaiesthis 15th day of August, A. D. 19in).

y Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents.

